onsin was the 30th state in the USA; it became a state on May 29,1848. State Abbreviation - WI State Capital - Madison Largest City - Milwaukee Area - 65,503 square miles [Wisconsin is the 23rd biggest state in the USA] Population - 5,742,713 (as of 2013) [Wisconsin is the 20th most populous state in the USA] Name for Residents - Wisconsinites Major Industries - dairy products (milk, butter, cheese), farming (corn), machinery, paper manufacturing, beer, tourism Major Rivers - Wisconsin River, Mississippi River, St. Croix River, Chippewa River Major Lakes - Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Winnebago Highest Point - Timms Hill - 1,952 feet (595 m) above sea level Number of Counties - 72 Bordering States - Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois Origin of the Name Wisconsin - Wisconsin is from an Indian word, but the origin is uncertain. It is perhaps an Algonquian Indian word that means "long river," a Chippewa/Ojibwa/Anishinabe word, "Ouisconsin," that means "grassy place," or "gathering of the waters." State Nickname - Badger State State Motto - "Forward" State Song - On, Wisconsin!